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Home › Articles › Fabrics › French Country Fabrics

French Country Fabrics

Using Fabrics to Create a French Feel

By Judy Leesburg

Pages:  1  

Americans continue to fall in love with anything French, especially Country French! Even so, the look can be a bit overwhelming to the untrained eye. Success requires a basic knowledge of color, patterns and furnishings. Once you possess that knowledge, you're well on your way to creating beautiful spaces.

With the number of fabrics associated with a French look, your options are unlimited. But how do you choose the right ones?

  • Start with an easy formula: checks, stripes, small prints and toile.
  • Checks – large and small – go well with everything.
  • Stripes in two colors or more (including stripe/florals) always have a French feel.
  • Small patterns made up of bees, flowers and roosters say warm, friendly and fun!
  • Tapestries and trims are another great addition. Use tapestry to cover a footstool or chair, and tassels and trims work wonderfully on draperies and pillows.

Toiles are usually medium-sized patterns depicting scenes of rural life. You could use this pattern for draperies, chairs, sofas or pillows. From there, go to a check pattern either larger or smaller than the toile. As a third pattern, choose a small print. Keep in mind that Country French colors run from bright mustards, reds and blues to soft greens, beiges and whites.

Fabric companies, such as Pierre Deux, Thibault and Schumacher, make patterns that are strictly French. Study fabric patterns to see how they mix together. Walk around a fabric store and group samples until three main patterns come together and stand out.

Country French says comfort and warmth. Surround yourself with colors and patterns that say "welcome" in French – or American.

Showcasing Your Armoire
Maybe you picked it up at a flea market or saw it's potential at an estate sale. Wherever it was that you first laid eyes on that old armoire, the question now is: What are you going to do with it?

First things first, you'll want to clean your newfound treasure. If you're working with a painted surface, equal parts of water and vinegar applied with a soft cloth should do the trick. (Mild soap and water applied with a soft, scrub brush can be used on wooden surfaces.)

Glaring damages can be fixed with wood filler or stainable wood putty. But be careful not to make too many changes, or the piece may lose its original charm – the reason you were attracted to it in the first place.

Your finishing touch might include a coat of clear acrylic, stain or paint. Whatever you choose, don't forget to have a little fun. Pamela O'Brien, ASID, owner of Room Redo of Houston, Texas, offers some creative and decorative ways to make good use of old armoires:

  • Wood doors can be left open or replaced with glass (use one of the popular seeded or textured glass patterns available these days) to show off your collectibles. Vintage towels, quilts, blankets, linens and lace can be displayed hung over the top of the doors.
  • Consider painting the inside of the cupboard a rich color to make your collectibles stand out, or cover with an interesting wallpaper or fabric for a vintage look.
  • Insides of doors can be lined with corkboard or fabric and ribbon and used as a memo board or painted with blackboard paint.
  • Install mirrors on the inside door panels for a handy instant dressing area. Small hooks can hold jewelry, scarves, etc. and be handy as well as decorative.

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